Vehicle wheel washing apparatus



Dec. 13, 1949 L. J. ROUSSEAU VEHICLE WHEEL WASHING APPARATUS Filed March 2?) 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll lllllllll llf IN V EN TOR. .529 J TFau sseaw 0% ,1 a

L. ,1. ROUSSEAU vamcnn wusm. WASHING armnuus 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1948 "VVENTOR. Leo J 7P0 sseaw 9 1949 L. J. ROUSSEAU VEHICLE WHEEL WASHING APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lA/vzwro/z BY .Lsa Pousseaw Q X y ?atented 33, id

vnarcnn WHEEL WASHING APPARATUS Leo .l. Rousseau, Grosse Pointe, Mich, assignor to Minit-Man, Inc., Detroit, Mich, a. corporation of Michigan Application March 27, 1948, ScrialNo. 17,513

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vehicle cleaning machines and, in particular, to vehicle washing machines.

One object of the invention is to provide animproved machine for washing the wheels of 2. vehicle as His passing through a vehicle washing apparatus.

Another object is to provide improved mechanism for speeding up therotation of vehicle wheels while the vehicle is passing through a-vehicle washing apparatus and being subjected to the action of cleaning elements, such as brushes, so that the wheels will more fully be cleaned than if the wheels received only their normal rotation while passing through the machine.

Another object is to provide an improved machine for speeding up the rotation of vehicle wheels and at the same time providing a hollow into which the wheel momentarily drops while being subjected to the speeding up action, so that the vehicle momentarily halts while the vehicle wheel is being washed.

Another object is to provide an improved machine for speeding up the rotation of vehicle wheels which is mechanically connected to an endless conveyor adapted to pull the vehicle through the vehicle cleaning apparatus, provision being made, if desired, for driving the conveyor chain or cable with the same motor that drives thewheel speed-up machine.

Another object is to provide an improved machine for speeding up the rotation of vehicle wheels, which machine is free from endless belts of the treadmill type, eliminating the consequent defects and frequent need forrepairs of such belts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of vehicle wheel speed-up machine, according to. a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section, mainly in the side elevation taken alongthe line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 2; I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken along the line fi-6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the vehicle wheel speedup machine in the operation of washing the front wheels of a vehicle;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic front elevation,

2 partly in vertical section, of the vehicle washing apparatus of Figure 7 in operation; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, of a vehicle conveying and wheel speed-up system of the type shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and 9 show a vehicle conveyor, gen= erally designated ill drivingly connected to 8. ve-- hicle wheel speed-up machine generally desig nated ll according to a preferred form of the invention, adapted to convey a vehicle It through a vehicle-washing and drying apparatus (not shown) while subjecting the wheels It to the action of wheel-washing brush devices I5 (Figure 8). The vehicle washing apparatus is conventional and it, together withthe wheel-washing brush devices l5 may be of the types shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 547,837 filed August 3, 1944 for a. Motor-vehicle cleaning apparatus.

The vehicle-washing apparatus is mounted onv a floor it (Figure 9) having pits i1, i8 and it spaced at intervals along the route traveled by the vehicle I3 on its way through the vehiclewashing and drying machine. The pits I? and i9 are provided with sprockets 20 and 2t mounted on shafts 22 and 23 at the opposite ends of the endless conveyor I0 and encircled by the endless conveying element or chain 24. The conveyor element 24 may pass .over idler sprockets or pulleys 25 and 26 in order to place its forward and return portions closely adjacent one another.

The vehicle l3 itself is towed by a flexible element 2? such as a chain attached at its rearward end to a portion of the vehicle, such as its bumper 28, and at its forward end by a connector 29 to the chain 24. The connector 29 may consist of the quick-detachable coupling device shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 16,990 filed March 25, 1948 for a Quick-acting clamp. In this manner, the vehicle I3 is detachably connected to the forward course of the conveyor chain 24 adjacent the rearward sprocket 2I and is detached therefrom by an attendant when the connector 29 approaches the forward sprocket 20.

The vehicle wheel speed-up machine ll is mounted in the pit ill for momentarily speeding up the rotation of the vehicle wheels It as they pass over the pit I8 while the vehicle I3 is being subjected to the action of the wheel-washing brush devices l5. The latter may consist of rotary brushes 30 (Figures 7 and 8) mounted on vertical shafts 3i journaled in approximately horizontal arms 32 and 33 which in turn are pivoted as at 3| 'andfl to upri hts 38 placed along side the vehicle pathway-defined by the track members 31. The track members .31 may consist of angle irons or rails mounted-lengthwise-along the floor IS on opposite sides of the conveyor chain 2| at spacings suflicient to place them just.-

inside the vehicle wheels I| (Figure 8). The brush shafts 3I are driven by. motors (not shown) and the arms 90 and 92 are preferably inclined slightly so that a line through the pivots 9| and to pass around the underside of a sprocket 15 05 is tilted slightly toward the vehicle I 3. By

this arrangement, the force of gravity causes the brush arms 32 and 33 to swing inward, bringing the brushes 30 into engagement with the faces a of the wheels ll.

The vehicle wheel speed-up machine II momentarily rotates the-vehicle wheels I| more rapidly than the normal rotation which they would receive as the vehicle I3 is pulled along the floor I6 by the conveyor II. If this speed-up machine were not provided, only an incomplete sector of the face of each wheel I would be reached by the brushes 30 as the vehicle I3 moved past them. The speed-up machine I I is mounted upon aframe 38 consisting of a pair of-cross-members 99 and I supported on legs a and interconnected by spaced outer and inner longitudinal members |I- and 42 interconnected by end members |2a and'spaced central longitudinal frame members 49. The frame 98 is mounted in the pit I l,'which is provided with a sub-pit extending downwardly from the bottom thereof, and held in position by hold-down bolts |I.

Mountedon the fraine members I, H and (Fi ure are spaced sets of shaft hangers or bearing blocks 49 and 41 in which are iournalled parallel shafts |8 and I! having separate sections thereof interconnected by couplings 50. Mounted on the shafts ll and l9 between the frame members M and H are forward and rearward rollers or pulleys SI and 52 respectively (Figure 3) of a proximately the same size and separated a scfllcient amount to provide a hollow or depression 53 between each pair of rollers i and 52. A pair of brackets 5| and 55 extend upward from the outer and inner frame members II and H and serve to rotatably support small diameter idler rollers 56 of diameters; such that theirupper peripheral portions lie on a levelvbelow the mounted on a shaft IS, the opposite ends of which are lournaled in bearing blocks 'I'I bolted to the "frame members 43 (Figure 1). From the sprocket the chain 24 descends vertically to pass around a grooved pulley I8 mounted upon the shaft to (Figures 1 and 5) from whence it passes over the top of a grooved pulley I9. The latter is mounted upon an axle 9| journaled in bearing blocks 82 bolted to a forwardly-extending notched plate 83 similar to the notched plate II and similarly secured to the floor I8 adjacent the edge of the pit I8.

Also mounted upon the shaft I8 (Figures 1, 2 and 4) is a large bull gear 8| which meshes with pinions 95 and 89 mounted upon the shafts l8 and 09 respectively. The bearing blocks and U which rotatably support the central portions of the shaft |8 and |9 are mounted upon pillars l1 and 99 respectively (Figures 4 and 5) secured at their lower ends to the frame members 43 and rising therefrom on opposite sides of the bearing blocks Tl. -Also mounted on the shaft 49 is a sprocket 89 which is drivingly connected by a sprocket chain 90- to a sprocket 9| mounted on the output shaft 92 of a conventional reductiongear set 93, the input shaft 9| of which (Figure 1) is connected by the coupling 95 to the output or armature shaft 96 of an electric motor 91. The reduction gear set 93 and motor 91 are level of the floor IS. The upper peripheries of ID the rollers 5I, and 52 are also so located and proportioned as to lie along an arc 51 (Figure 3) which is a roximately the diameter of an avera e vehicle tire. Outer and inner forward lates 59 and 59 and rearward plates and BI. (Figures 1 and 2) also are mounted upon and extend upward from the outer and inner frame members H and H. The forward plates 58 and 59 serve to rotatably sup ort pairs of forward idler rollers 62 and 63 whereas the rearward plates and GI similarly rotatably support single rearward idler rollers 5|. The forward and rearward plates 58,59 and 90, 8| are interconnected by horizontal forward and rearward plates 55 and res ectively, the edges of which are beveled asat 91.

The conveyor chain 2| in its forward and rearward courses runs in upper and lower channel members Bland 69 respectively (Figure 5) supported at intervals by angle brackets I0. Arranged adjacent the forward edge of the pit i0 is a notched plate II (Figure l) to the rearward- 'ly-projecting arms of which are bolted bearing blocks II in which are journaled the opposite ends bolted to the bottom of an alcove 99 of the pit I9. In order to take up slack in the sprocket chain 90, there is provided an idler pulley 99; mounted on an axle I00 at one end of a lever I0l which is pivoted as at I02 to the angle bracket ill (Figure l) bolted to the frame member 39. The opposite end of the lever I0I carries a counterweight II" by which upward pressure is applied to the pulley 99 to take up the slack in the sprocket chain 90. a

The sprocket I5 is provided with teeth I05 and I (Figure 6) separated by'an annular groove I01 adapted'to receive the vertical links of the conveyor chain 2|, the intervals between the vertical and horizontal links being entered by the teeth I05 and I05. The pulley I5 is bolted to a hub I01 which in turn is bolted to the shaft I8. A collar I08 clamped to the shaft I6 and a spacing ring I09 serve .to engage the hub I01 on its right-hand end. While the conveyor I0 and vehicle wheel speed-up machine Ii have been shown as driven by a common motor 91, it will be obvious that separate motors may also be used.

Operation In the operation of the invention, after the vehicle has been driven to the rearward end of the floor I6 adjacent the sprocket or pulley 2|, the tow chain 21 is secured to the vehicle bumper V 29 and coupled as at 29 to the upper or forwardly moving course of the conveyor chain 2|. Meanwhile, the motor 91 has been placed in operation. rotating the shafts |8 and 49 and the rollers SI and 52 of the vehicle wheel speed-up machine II in the directions shown by the arrows in Figure 3. At the same time, the rotation of the sprocket I5 by the rotation of the shaft 49 pulls the return course of the conveyor chain 24 downward in the direction of the lower arrows (Figure 5) causing the upper course to travel in the of an axle I3 carrying agrooved pulley "(Figure 1| direction of the upper arrow so that a travel of tire or wheel 14 into the hollow 53 occurs suddenly, causing a momentary slackening in the tow chain 21. This slackening is sumcient to halt the forward travel of the vehicle I: momentarily, before this slack is taken up by the steady forward motion of the upper course of the conveyor chain 24. During this momentary halt of the vehicle I3, the speed-up machine ll, applied through the driven rollers SI, 52, rotates the wheels I4 'rapidly as they rest in the hollows 53. Meanwhile the rotary brushes 30 move inward into engagement with the wheels [4 and, assisted by water sprays (not shown), wash ofl the mud and dirt from the wheels. The various speed ratios of the machine I I are such that the speed-up machine ll is capable of rotating the wheel l4 through at least a full revolution during its momentary halt in the hollow 53, cleaning the entire outer surface of the wheel. The brushes in are of very limp material so that they reach into the various hollows of the wheel and consequently clean it thoroughly.

In the meantime, the forward travel of the upper course of the conveyor chain 24 has been steadily taking up the slack in the tow chain 21 caused by the dropping of the wheel l4 into the hollow 53, and when this slack is entirely taken up, the tow chain 21 becomes taut and causes the vehicle to resume its forward travel. As the vehicle moves forward, it is subjected to the action of other water sprays and body and top cleaning brushes in the manner described in my previously-mentioned co-pending applications. When the rear wheels l4 arrive over the speed-up, machine ll, they in turn also drop into the hollows 53 and are speeded up and washed in the previously described manner as the tow chain 21 again becomes momentarily slackened. The vehicle It again resumes its forward travel when the slack inthetowchain2listakenup,and through the drying portions of the machine to the end of its travel adjacent the pulley or sprocket 20. Here the tow chain 21 is uncoupled from the chain 24 and disconnected from the bumper 28, after which the driver drives the vehicle ll away under its ownpower.

What I claim is:

1. A vehicle conveyor and wheel speed-up system for vehicle washing apparatus, comprising an endless conveyor movable along a vehicle pathway through said apparatus, a vehicle towing element detachably connecting the vehicle with said conveyor, and a vehicle wheel speed-up machine engageable with the vehicle wheels and having hollows therein for momentarily receiving the wheels whereby to effect a momentary slackening of said-towing element and cause a momentary halt in the vehicle travel during the wheel speed-up and washing operation.

2. A vehicle conveyor and wheel speed-up system for vehicle washing apparatus, comprising an endless conveyor movable along a vehicle pathway through said apparatus, a vehicle towing element detachably connecting the vehicle with said conveyor, a vehicle wheel speed-up machine engageable with the vehicle wheels and having hollows therein for momentarily receiving the wheels whereby .to eflect a momentary slackening of said towing element and cause a momentary halt in the vehicle travel during the wheel speed-up and washing operation, and a common power source drivingly connected to said conveyor and to said speed-up machine.

3. A vehicle conveyor and wheel speed-up system for vehicle washing apparatus, comprising an endless conveyor movable along a vehicle pathway through said apparatus, a vehicle towing element detachably connecting the vehicle with said conveyor, and a vehicle wheel speedup machine engageable with the vehicle wheels and having hollows therein for momentarily receiving the wheels whereby to eflect a momentary slackening of said towing element and cause a momentary halt in the vehicle travel during the wheel speed-up and washing operation, said speed-up machine including rotary wheel-rotating elements spaced apart from one another on the forward and rearward sides of said hollows.

L. J. ROUBSEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die of this patent:

2,062,800 Norton Dec. 1. 1836 

